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You'll have a new appreciation for referees after watching this video

By Jeremy Binckes, Digital First Media

Posted:
12/23/2013 06:47:27 PM MST

Updated:
12/23/2013 06:47:33 PM MST

Earlier this month, the Charlotte Checkers, a minor league hockey team, were able to get an American Hockey League referee to wear a GoPro camera on his helmet. The result is an entirely new perspective of the game.

The on-ice action is nothing new. There have been a number of helmet camera videos that show the perspective from ice level, but none of them have been able to detail the game management that is required to handle two minor league hockey teams.

While it's nearly 10 minutes long, the video is worth watching in full, mostly to see how referee David Banfield reacts to some of the pressures of a game between the Checkers and Rockford IceHogs. It's a balance between not stifling the flow of the game, and not letting things get out of hand. That includes breaking up fights, explaining why players are being sent to the penalty box, communicating with his partners and recovering from a nasty spill.

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.